Twilight

I’ve often said that sunrise with the Father is my favorite time of day. And it is! But there is something about the early stages of evening that stirs my soul. My spirit is comforted most at that time of day when all the world begins to shade itself in ever-deepening colors of blue and settle down for rest. The sound of “Zee-er” bugs (locusts) in the trees and the sight of fire-flies in the yard gives me a feeling of homesickness.

At that time when street lights come on and house windows turn golden with light, I love imagining that behind each bright pane of glass is a happy loving family. Such were the summer evenings of my childhood. We watched for the street lights and listened for Dad’s call. Those were the signs that it was time to go home. Work was done for the day. Dinner was over and the dishes were done. We children were bathed and in pajamas. All was clean, and ready to end the day.

Especially sweet to me are the memories of evenings with my grandparents. The last event of the day was watching the news and weather forecast while Grandpa explained to you what it all meant for this year’s wheat or alfalfa crop. In the background were the sounds made by Grandma’s bustling about to ready your room and bed. Everything just right. Cool blue sheets without a wrinkle in sight. Fluffy marshmallow pillows. Overhead lighting turned off and bedside lamps turned on. The whole house magically became a beautiful, comforting, sweet smelling place of rest.

Just now I’m listening to the “Zee-er” bugs, the crickets and a couple of bull-frogs. I hear a Dad calling his children home for the night. Two little boys whoosh past me on bicycles as they rush to be home by curfew. There is an elderly couple on their porch talking in low murmurs about their day; and in the distance I hear the calliope music of the ice-cream truck making it’s final rounds. Very soon now it will all be quiet and everyone will be safely at home.

The stars in the heavens are beginning to shine now. Bright, golden, comforting, twinkling, magical lights. Thousands and thousands of them. Windows into heaven? I like to think so. Can you see them? Behind them is a home filled with love. Do you hear that sound? It’s the bustling about of the Father and Son preparing a place just for us. Making it just right. Inhale deeply. Can you smell that sweet aroma of praise that surrounds them? Can you feel the love and comfort and rest awaiting we who are His children?

It’s time to finish up work. Watch for the signs. Don’t miss it. Very soon now the Father will turn to the Son and say, “Go call the children. It’s time to bring them home.” And the family will all be safely at home and at rest.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command…and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever!” I Thessalonians 4:16-17

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

Trustworthy

"Life is about relationships, the rest is just details. ...You have a relationship with yourself....may be that sounds, self-centered. And it is to some extent. But as with all relationships, it's all about balance. It is unhealthy to be too focused on your relationship to yourself..However, it is just as unhealthy to belittle, dismiss, or ignore yourself.

Do you have a healthy, dynamic relationship with yourself? Are you on good terms? Do you think of yourself as important? Do you like yourself? Do you accept yourself? Do you forgive yourself? Do you take care of yourself?

In each of us lies something of staggering worth & value-yet that something is very vulnerable, easily damaged or devalued. When we treat someone in a way that shows we recognize both their incredible value & their vulnerability, we demonstrate our trustworthiness. Be trustworthy with others! Be trustworthy with yourself!"

(Gary Smalley, excerpts from 'The DNA of Relationships')

Freedom in the journey

Another crutch has painfully been removed. The last one? Probably not. I’ve discovered that there are lots of them. I’ve kept them stacked in the corners of my life and pulled each one out when needed. Some of those crutches were people, some were dreams and hopes, and some were inanimate objects. All of them I thought necessary to maintain the ability to walk through life.

This particular crutch I leaned upon quite heavily. How did I become so dependent upon it? When did it become so intrinsic to me? When did I pick it up? I don’t remember. I realize now that my walk was a little off balance, a little a-kilter, and skewed to one side. Walking with that crutch had become such a way of life that I no longer noticed it at my side. It was like a part of me and I felt quite comfortable with it under my arm, supporting me on the road of life.

My Savior allowed me to carry and lean upon that crutch; all the while whispering to me, “I can take that and you can lean on me instead. I can help you walk upright again and I’ll walk beside you through it all.” What a precious, precious Savior! Never chiding me for carrying the crutch. Never belittling me for my ignorance in thinking I needed the crutch. Never pushing or demanding that I give up the crutch. Always gently reminding me, “…take MY yoke…my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Let‘s trade.”

At some point recently He began walking ahead of me and placing objects in my path; objects meant to be difficult, but only when using my crutch. These objects along my journey began to make me uncomfortable with my crutch. I became frustrated with the rocks and obstructions on the road. I realized that I could only easily navigate if I laid the crutch down. But in my stubbornness I crawled over and around the obstacles, clutching my crutch, trying to prove to Him that it was necessary to me. I arrived on the other side of each stumbling-block bruised, battered, bloody and desperately clinging to the only thing causing my difficulty. He would lovingly pick me up, dust me off, set me on my feet, bathe and dress my wounds and we’d set out together again.

I began to pay attention to those times when my crutch caused me pain and finally grew tired of the struggle. Realizing it was the source of my discomfort, I turned to my Savior and asked Him to take it. I painfully lifted the arm that had been holding it so tightly and He slowly and gently removed it.

He graciously allowed me to cry and grieve the loss of my crutch before we began to move on. He placed one arm around me and the other beneath the now crutch-less arm and we began walking together. I find that I have no strength in that area where I had leaned upon my crutch. I do not remember how to walk without it and I am very dependent upon His support now, which is as it should be.

I have His undivided attention. He watches each step I take, much like a father holds the back of a bicycle while his child is riding on training wheels. We journey on together. He removes obstacles from my path, for now, until I have regained my strength and can walk easily beside Him. Eventually I’ll find that I'm walking upright again and we are hand-in-hand on this road. I know that if I stumble, He’ll pick me up. When I’m weak and weary, He’ll let me lean on Him again. What freedom there is now that the crutch-burden is gone!

What is your burden? What is your crutch? What is it that He lovingly asks you to give to Him? Is it a person you depend upon for happiness, a habit that numbs your pain, the desire to own "things" mistakenly thinking they validate your worth, or a dream that does not fall within His plan for your life? Whatever it is, give it to Him! He longs for you to experience the freedom and joy of walking without the added burden of the crutch you really never needed at all! "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

"O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me…You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!” (Psalm 30:2,11-12)